A senior rugby team has discovered a way to beat the lockdown match ban while preparing for its upcoming season - in addition to raising cash for charity.

Players from Sir Roger Manwood’s School in Sandwich have pledged to complete a 20,000 pitch challenge in aid of the Mercury's Charity of the Year, Martha Trust.

In running and cycling the equivalent of 20,000 rugby pitches, which is approximately 2000km or 1,242 miles, the 20 players will be raising vital funds to support young people and adults with profound disabilities.

Captain Will Morrison was the mastermind behind the challenge alongside Fin Beaman and George Winham.

The close-knit team of players from Year 11, 12 and 13 who are unable to train and play as they usually would will start it on Monday, June 22 and finish on Sunday, June 28.

Mr Morrison said: “As a team we have realised how good an opportunity lockdown has been to exercise and get ready for our upcoming season.

"To make fitness more competitive around the squad, we have decided to set a challenge whereby the team run and cycle every day as we tally the distances up we are looking to have travelled the distance of 20,000 rugby pitches which is around 2,000km.

"We want to show others that lockdown can be used positively to improve yourself physically and mentally and raise money for a local charity we all know and care about.

"Martha Trust is well known to us all and we want to raise as much money as possible for the residents at this very difficult time.

"If you could support us with a donation, we would be extremely grateful.”

Fundraising and events officer for Martha Kerry Banks BEM said: “It is fabulous that the team want to support Martha through this huge challenge and monies raised would be very gratefully received at these very strange times.

"Our homes have been on lockdown since the end of February.

"Thanks to the incredible care and dedication of our staff, our very special residents remain COVID free and long may that continue. We all wish the team good luck."

If you would like to support their challenge, please visit their fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/manwoodsrugby

If you would like to undertake a challenge for Martha Trust, please contact Kerry on 01304 610448 or email fundraising@marthatrustorg.uk

Read more: All the latest news from Sandwich